Photography camp helps teenagers see by means of new lens

Photography camp helps teenagers see by means of new lens

Published 1:30 am Monday, May 11, 2026

People, crops, water and every part in between have a narrative to inform.

That’s what 20 college students by means of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula discovered as they spent a part of their spring break taking hundreds of snapshots with the National Geographic Photo Camp by way of the National Geographic Society and Allen Family Philanthropies.

They spent 4 nights and 5 days from March 30 by means of April 3 at NatureBridge by Lake Crescent, the place they discovered the ins and outs of lighting, digicam and telephone settings, framing and extra from seasoned National Geographic photographers and explorers.

The free camp included workshops, lodging, meals and gear.

Phillip McIntyre, a Sequim High School senior, was certainly one of 4 Sequim college students to attend. He has attended the Sequim Boys & Girls Club since he was in first grade.

“It was one of the greatest trips of my life,” he mentioned. “It showed me how much we don’t see and don’t appreciate.”

Students went to completely different areas, together with Salt Creek Recreation Area, Marymere Falls, Sol Duc Falls, Dungeness Spit, Ediz Hook and Forks.

McIntyre mentioned he was impressed after visiting locations, resembling Marymere Falls, which he all the time thought was a tremendous place, however “taking photos amplified it so much.”

Students mentioned the camp has helped them to reside extra within the second and see on a regular basis issues in a different way.

Originally, McIntyre mentioned he wasn’t too concerned with Salt Creek, “but going and seeing it through a new lens is really cool.”

Students took almost 28,000 pictures utilizing Canon R10 digital cameras, he mentioned.

That included surfers, different photographers, passersby, animal and flowers and extra.

“Another thing I learned is seeing how happy people are when they see their photos,” McIntyre mentioned.

National Geographic workers mentioned the camp appears to be like to inform the story of Washington by means of the eyes of younger individuals dwelling right here whereas sharing their very own views about their residence.

Along with pictures, college students additionally discovered writing abilities to assist construct connections of their communities and use storytelling for inventive constructive change.

McIntyre mentioned a number of the college students had taken pictures lessons in highschool, however many had been new to the sector.

“I’ve always been interested in photographs, but I just don’t have time to do it and don’t have a camera,” McIntyre mentioned.

Teachers inspired college students to take pictures with their cellphones, he mentioned, they usually discovered completely different options for after they’re out and about.

After the camp, McIntyre mentioned he felt impressed, and whereas he didn’t know everybody on the camp earlier than, they’re all mates now and in a big group textual content chat.

He continues to assist his grandfather’s photograph sales space enterprise, Pacific Shutterbug, touring to completely different occasions resembling secure and sober commencement actions.

McIntyre mentioned the camp helped present him how way more he loves the enterprise, and it’s impressed him to increase his curiosity in pictures.

After commencement this June, he plans to work on the Sequim Boys & Girls Club.

For extra about National Geographic Photo Camp, go to instagram.com/ngphotocamp.

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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which consists of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. He will be reached by electronic mail at matthew.nash@sequimgazette.com.